I wanted to call them the Orioles’ chief rival, and I suppose that is true since the Orioles seemingly have always been gunning for the Bronx Bombers. But rivalry is a two-way street, and we know the Yankees’ chief rival is the Boston Red Sox.

Then I nearly called the Yankees the Orioles’ most despised rival.

But I’m not positive that works anymore -- especially with the Red Sox winning three World Series titles in the past 10 years. A chunk of Boston’s fan base really seems to enjoy verbally beating down the Orioles’ fans at Camden Yards, and I’ve heard from a number of Orioles’ supporters who believe that Red Sox Nation is now more intolerable than the New Yorkers who come to Charm City.

But it had me thinking -- and that often lends itself to a discussion for the bar. It especially works in a week like this one, when you anticipate there will be news to report but nothing concrete has come together.

So, call this a subject for a frigid day: Right now, Orioles’ fans, which team -- and its fan base -- irks you more: The longtime bullies of the block, the Yankees, or the defending champion Red Sox? I know when I was growing up there was no contest. But it has been decades since I looked at baseball from a fan’s perspective.

I know that when Roberts signed a deal with the Yankees, several friends of mine told me they were more bothered by the fact that he’ll be in pinstripes than the fact he has left Baltimore after 13 seasons. Roberts said he had heard that from some as well.

I’m sure over the years we’ve asked this one before. But this winter seems like a great time to revisit it, especially with the Yankees’ freely spending again. So let’s go there. I want to hear, in your opinion, whether the Red Sox have overtaken the Yankees on Baltimore baseball’s hate-meter.

Daily Think Special: Which team do you dislike more: Red Sox or Yankees? And why?